Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle
Block 0 Ground Standoff Minefield Detection System (GSTAMIDS)
Ground Standoff Mine Detection System (GSTAMIDS) Block “0” is an upgrade over the current Interim Vehicular Mounted Mine Detection (IVMMD) system. GSTAMIDS Block 0 consists of a teleoperated mine detection vehicle and a blast protected control vehicle. The mine detection vehicle will employ multiple sensors (metal detector, GPR and IR) in order to detect all types of anti-tank mines. Mine detection data will be processed on-board the mine detection vehicle. The mine detection decision will be automatic and the data will be displayed to the operator in the control vehicle by way of a data link.
GSTAMIDS Block 0 is a contingency asset designed for the primary purpose of detecting mines in support of stability and support operations at the Corps level. In GSTAMIDS Block 0, the primary mission is mine detection and marking in support of route clearance operations during stability and support operations. It is a two-vehicle system that consists of a tele-operated mine detection vehicle (MDV), which employs ground-penetrating radar, an infrared camera and metal detectors to detect all types of antitank mines; and, a mine protected clearance vehicle (MPCV) that provides a mine-protected platform from which soldier/operators can remotely control the MDV and interrogate suspected mine locations.
GSTAMIDS Block 0 will provide mine detection, marking, and neutralization in support of route clearance operations. Block 0 will operate on the digitized battlefield via FBCB2. GSTAMIDS Block 0 is the first part of a spiral development strategy to field an objective vehicular mounted mine detection system. Block 1 (Production in FY06) and Block 2 (Production in FY11) will provide better detection and neutralization capabilities with more advanced technologies. Block 0 has begun a three-year EMD phase that will culminate in a MS III decision in 4QFY02.
GSTAMIDS Block 0 will detect and mark 90% of all anti-tank mines on unimproved roads with a false alarm rate not to exceed 60 per linear kilometer at an average speed on 5 kph. It will provide a teleoperation capability to remove the operator from the inherent risks of mine detection operations. And it will provide a control vehicle with a neutralization capability.
The Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV) is a blast resistant vehicle intended to protect soldiers from the effects of mine blasts, during route clearance operations, as part of the GSTAMIDS Block 0 system. Soldiers will remotely control the functions of the GSTAMIDS Mine Detection (MDV) from the MPCV. Soldiers using tele-operation capability from the MPCV are afforded "stand-off" protection from the effects of possible AT mine blasts during mine detection and confirmation missions. The system uses a hydraulic arm to interrogate the suspected mine site.
The MPCV follows approximately 125 meters (for three vehicles in echelon, METT-T dependent) behind the Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV). The MPCV consists of a five-soldier crew. The MPCV operator drives the MPCV and stays within the marked path created by the MDV. The driver will stop prior to each suspected mine marked on the road by the MDV while staying within path marked by the MDV. Once the MPCV has stopped at a suspected mine the Mechanical Arm Confirmation Operator (MACO) operates the hydraulic arm to confirm or deny the presence of a mine. If a mine is found, the MACO will move the mine off to the side of the road for subsequent neutralization. Once the MACO has completed all required actions the MPCV Driver will proceed to the next mine declaration. The vehicle tele-operation (VT) operator controls the speed and direction of the MDV through the VT Operator Control Unit (OCU). The GSTAMIDS Operator monitors the GSTAMIDS Block 0 system functions and a "waterfall" display of mine marking activity through the GSTAMIDS Display Unit (GDU). The fifth crew-member is a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) to provide supervision and command and control of all operations within the MPCV.
Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle
Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) was conducted to determine the most appropriate vehicle to serve as the MPCV. There were two candidates being considered for the control vehicle. They are the Reumech OMC Casspir and the Denel - Mechem Lion II. Down Select was in June 2001 with integration into GSTAMIDS in June 2001. The selected contractor was Buffalo Technical Solutions Group, Charlston, SC The MPCV was to be be fielded on a one-for-one basis with GSTAMIDS Block 0 and GSTAMIDS Block 1.
Refurbished Casspirs are being sold to other countries, including 90 to India. Some are in service in the United States doing countermine work in Iraq as the GSTAMIDS Block 0 - Buffalo [a nomenclature that invites confusion with the unrelated Buffel].
The Buffalo is the most recent equipment to defeat improvised explosive devices in Iraq. Just like its name suggests, the 23-ton machine is made of monstrous proportions, and appears to be virtually unstoppable. It is a heavily-armored vehicle designed for route clearance, giving patrols a closer look at suspected improvised explosive devices. This way it can be confirmed that an improvised explosive devices is present before bringing an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team onto the scene.
Technical Solutions Group, North Charleston, S.C., was awarded on Sept. 12, 2002, a $6,560,651 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of 10 mine protected clearance vehicles, development of a system support plan, delivery of maintenance spares, development of training courseware and development of an electronic technical manual. Work will be performed in North Charleston, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 12, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on July 25, 2002. The U. S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (DAAB15-02-C-0036).
Technical Solutions Group Inc., Ladson, S.C., was awarded on May 10, 2004, a $7,681,688 increment as part of a $15,363,376 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of 21 Mine Protected Clearance Vehicles “Buffalo”, one set of steel wheels, one set wheel width disc rollers, one lot of repair parts and spares, and one lot of consumable and maintenance parts. Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2004. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on April 21, 2004. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W909MY-04-C-0034).
Technical Solutions Group Inc., Ladson, S.C., was awarded on Nov. 18, 2004, a $5,909,743 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of 15 Mine Protected Clearance Vehicles “Buffalo” and associated repair parts and spares. Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2005. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Sept. 15, 2004. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W909MY 05-C-0001).
This new addition was added to the Tiger Brigade family and took up residence with the 1088th Engineering Battalion in early 2005. Once an improvised explosive device is spotted by a route clearance team, it can be investigated without getting physically on the ground to look at it. The Buffalo is equipped with a 30-foot extension, called an Ironclaw, which is operated from within the vehicle. Once an improvised explosive device is spotted by a route clearance team, it can be investigated without getting physically on the ground to look at it.
The operator uses the Ironclaw to probe debris and dirt from around the questionable device and also has an extra set of eyes mounted on top to help decipher the identity of the object. Working hand in hand with a television screen inside the vehicle, a 200X Zoom video camera has a bird’s eye view of everything. It has the capability to help the crew see clearly.
The Buffalo seats six, with the driver and operator at the front and the four remaining soldiers behind them designated for eyes. The crew is seated about 10 to 12 feet off of the ground and will also have access to an extra set of searchlights that are maneuvered from inside the vehicle. With the lights, the camera, and the 30- foot arm, they will be able to search anywhere they feel there is a threat.
The operators received a course on the specifications and operations of the Buffalo. They were trained by the 458th Engineers and received classroom instruction, as well as on-the-job training. They were afforded the opportunity to go with the team on missions, and about 75 percent of what they learned was from actually conducting route clearance in the area of operation.
Based on the intelligence gathered through patrol debriefings and information sent down to the company level, the Buffalo will be tasked out to the desired patrols. This is the most recent example of the Tiger Brigade receiving the latest high-tech equipment to help battle the war on terror. The Buffalo’s purpose is to keep soldiers protected from improvised explosive devices. Piazza and the A Company soldiers will accompany the patrolling units, and he has faith that this will prove to be a viable asset.
On 12 May 2005 the Senate Armed Services Committee authorized $441.6 billion for FY06 defense spending, which included a recommendation to fund another $9.8 million for the USMC Cougar Hardened Engineer Vehicles in Counter IED Systems.
On 09 September 2005 Force Protection, Inc. announced the initial sale of its Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicles (MPCV) to the U.S. Marine Corps under an urgent operational need request issued by the Marine Corps Systems Command (Quantico, Virginia). Under the terms of the contract, Force Protection will deliver four Buffalo vehicles, replacement parts and a service representative to coordinate maintenance efforts in active operations. The total value of the contract is approximately $3.8 million. It is expected to be filled by the end of 2005. The contract represents the Marines' first purchase of the Buffalo MPCV, which was originally provided under contract to the U.S. Army. They will join more than 50 Buffalo vehicles currently being used in Afghanistan and Iraq. At that time the Buffalo had been in active operations for more than two years, and has been used to clear thousands of suspected explosive devices from hundreds of miles of dangerous roads in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
